Chemical Burns
Chemical burns are injuries to the skin, eyes, mouth, or internal organs caused due to contact with an irritant chemical.
Chemical burns are injuries to the skin, eyes, mouth, or internal organs caused due to contact with an irritant chemical. It may be acidic or caustic. Chemical burns can happen at home, public area or at work as result of an accident or an assault or misuse of hair, skin, and nail care products.
Based on the amount of damage to the skin, they could be:
- Superficial or first-degree burns
- Partial thickness or second-degree burns
- Full thickness or third-degree burns
Following common precautions and educating the people can reduce risk of injury.
Household products that can cause chemical burns, including:
- Products that contain Ammonia like hair colour
- Battery acid
- Bleach
- Concrete mix
- Drain or toilet bowl cleaners
- Metal cleaners
- Pool chlorinators
- Tooth-whitening products
Infants and elderly are most at risk for burns.
All chemical burns are considered medical emergencies and most of these occur on the face, eyes, arms, and legs.
Symptoms of Chemical burn
Patients with chemical burn will experience following problems over the affected area:
- Redness, irritation, or burning
- Pain or numbness
- Formation of blisters
- Cough or breathlessness
Apart from skin, in few cases, where chemical has penetrated deep- deeper structures can also be damaged. This deeper burn occurrence depends on:
- Strength of the chemical
- Contact site(eye, skin, mucous membrane)
- If chemical is swallowed.
- Amount of chemical
- Duration of exposure
- Chemical nature of the chemical
In serious cases, following may occur:
- Low blood pressure
- Weakness, dizziness
- Breathlessness and severe cough
- Headache
- Muscle twitching or seizures
- Irregular heartbeat and cardiac arrest
- Rare event of death also
Treatment of Chemical Burn
Assessment of the extent of a chemical burn is done and treatment is begun.
Patient history includes the relevant information regarding the accident scene like
- Where did it happen?
- How did it happen?
- When did it happen?
- Name, strength, and quantity of the chemical causing the burn
- Even for very small exposure, basic first aid is given. The area involved is inspected. A tetanus vaccination shot is given to all those who are not vaccinated previously or have received vaccination more than 5years ago.
- Most people with chemical burns do not need admission and go home and come for follow-up care. In severe cases, however, they may need to be hospitalized.
First aid
- Remove the person with the burn from the accident area.
- Remove any contaminated clothing.
- Wash the area to dilute or remove the substance, using water for at least 20 minutes.Gently remove any solid materials
- Especially wash away any chemical in your or the person's eye.
Medical treatment in the hospital
- IV fluids and pain killers to treat pain
- Antibiotics
- Irrigation with water
- Antidote is administered if the chemical composition is known.
- Regular dressing of the area with creams.
- Consultation with other medical specialists.
- If there isbreathing problems, a breathing tube is placed in airway.
Surgical Management
- Minor chemical burns will heal on its own or with regular dressings
- Chemical burns involvingpartial thickness of the skincan also heal with regular dressings. They might require skin grafting at a later stageif the area is covered with a red granulating wound with regular dressings.
- For deep full thickness burns of the skin, excision of the burnt area and skin grafting of healthy skin from thighshould be done to replace the damaged skin.
- Multiple cosmetic or reconstructive surgeries may be needed if face is scarred or deeply burnt. For reference kindly visit Post burn scar face page and soft tissue injury of face.
- Physical and occupational therapy.
- Counselling and support groups can help with emotional trauma from the disfigurement.
- Products that contain Ammonia like hair colour
- Battery acid
- Bleach
- Concrete mix
- Drain or toilet bowl cleaners
- Metal cleaners
- Pool Chlorinators
- Tooth-whitening Products
Complications of Chemical Burn
Serious chemical burns can cause long-term complications:
- Pain and scarring.
- Burns in the eye can lead to blindness.
- Swallowing can lead to problems in gastrointestinal tract.
- Loss of fingers or toes.
- Emotional issues including anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
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Best plastic surgeon, Dr. Amit Agarwal is an American Board Certified, extensively trained, and best Plastic & Aesthetic surgeon in Lucknow. He is the Chief Plastic Surgeon heading the Department of Plastic, Microvascular, and Craniofacial surgery at Vivekananda Polyclinic and Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, U.P, India. He maintains a busy practice at Avadh and Nishat Hospital and his own center - Kayakriti Plastic Surgery & Dental Center. He was formerly a Consultant in the Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns at the prestigious SGPGI, Lucknow.
MS, DNB (General Surgery) MCh, DNB (Plastic Surgery),
MNAMS, FACS, FICS, FRCS (Edinburgh, UK)
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We believe your experience with us should be comfortable and hassle-free to make it one of your best lifetime experiences for yours. We, here at the clinic, take full precautions to maintain your privacy in any manner. We also provide a staff who will receive you from the gate and take you to the chamber directly if you demand.
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Our Surgeon is highly qualified and internationally certified with a team of skilled staff to perform any surgical or non-surgical treatment on your body.
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When you plan to undergo any surgery you should always keep in mind that it's your body and it's a surgery. We, here always keep your safety a priority and will never recommend you to undergo any such procedure which is not safe for you. We also provide you with a detailed description of the complications which may occur after the surgery during the consultation as it's a surgical procedure so there may be some complications depending on the way your body reacts.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If you have flat or small breast and you want to improve your breast and hip contour ratio then you are a good candidate for it. The answer will be best provided after the first consultation with Dr Amit Agarwal.
Acute pain will be there for almost a week which gradually reduces and there will be soreness and swelling which may take up to 3 weeks to subside.
You can join your work and daily routines after a week of the procedure and can start exercising after 3 weeks of it.
Yes, you have to wear it round the clock unless we suggest you to remove it.
This surgery does not affect the ducts or the areas of the breast involved in milk production. Thus, it does not affect the breast feeding.
This surgery does not affect the ducts or the areas of the breast involved in milk production. Thus, it does not affect the breast feeding.
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D-43, Near Punjab National Bank, Rajajipuram, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh - 226017, India
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